ROCK SPRINGS – With playoff hopes on the line, the Rock Springs Tigers traveled to Cheyenne South who was yet to win in 4A play. The Tigers looked strong early but completely fell apart in the second half. The Tigers had a chance in the final seconds to keep their playoff hopes alive but missed a field goal, giving the South Bison the 16-14 victory.

Kolton Legerski started off throwing the football and two completions to Sean Willmore moved the ball to midfield. Legerski then found Darek Mattinson to move the ball to the one yard line. But, as it’s been all season, untimely penalties cost Rock Springs and this time moved the ball  back into Rock Springs Territory.

Seeing success going to Mattinson once, Legerski went right back to him. This time the pass and catch moved to the Cheyenne South 16-yard line. A Bison pass interference penalty moved the ball inside the ten. on the next play, Legerski kept the ball and gave the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.

The Tiger defense shut down the Bison on their first drive, but after Rock Springs punted back, South was able to mount their first sustained drive on offense.

Cheyenne uses a very quick offense with quick snaps to the quarterback. The Tigers were able to force a fourth down at the ten, but the defense jumped when South did not snap the ball as fast as usual, giving South a first.

It was short lived success by the Bison and Rock Springs was able to force a fumble which was recovered by linebacker Jacob Wilson, ending the drive.

Legerski found Jacob Combs for a gain. Then, a nice run by Garrett McGaha moved the Tigers out of the shadow of their own end zone. Legerski dropped back again, but this time found a Bison to give South midfield position on the interception.

Cheyenne moved the ball down the four-yard line and looked liked they were going to walk in. But Legerski forced a fumble which was  recovered by McGaha, ending another red-zone visit by the Bison.

Legerski went back to Mattinson on another 20-yard pass to get away from their endzone. From there South forced the Tigers to punt, getting the ball back with just under two minutes in the half.  After South moved the ball close to the middle of the field, Domingo Santhanawit intercepted the ball at the ten with under a minute left. The Tigers made running out the clock interesting on a bad snap, but ended the wild first half with a 7-0 lead.

Both offenses were ineffective as the punters got a workout to start the third quarter. Legerski then found success in the place where he had several times during the game as he hit Mattinson for a 25-yard pass play with 4 minutes left in the third quarter. Another 17-yard pass completion on third down moved the ball right outside the redzone. A 12-yard scamper by McGaha moved the ball to the ten and a quick snap and keeper by Legerski scored his second running touchdown of the night with 3:33 left in the third.

The Rock Springs defense forced a punt, but the Tigers returned the favor to the Bison. As the seconds ticked off the third quarter, South completed a long pass in the back of the endzone to cut into the Tiger lead. Rock Springs blocked the extra point to keep the lead at 14-6.

Rock Springs took over on the kick but gave the ball right back on another interception thrown by the Tigers. On the ensuing drive by the bisons, Rock Springs had seven penalties called on them.  The Bison quickly moved into the red zone as the momentum switched sides. With 9:08 left in the game, Cheyenne blasted in to cut the lead to two. The Bison were able to score on the two-point conversion to even the game at 14.

 The Tigers were forced to punt and the snap was mishandled. McGaha kicked the ball out of the back of the endzone to give Cheyenne two points on the safety, increasing the Bison lead to 16-14.

South moved into the redzone but the Tiger defense forced a fourth and two. With the ball at the 14, South went for it on fourth but Rock Springs held strong. With the score 16-14, the stop gave Rock Springs one more shot to regain the lead.

Catches by McGaha and Mattinson moved the ball to their own 35. McGaha was able to break free on a run to move the ball to midfield, and on the next play ran the ball into South territory with 2 minutes left.  Legerski found Willmore on a pass to move the ball to the 34 yard line as the clock ticked under two minutes.

Two incompletions and a short run on third, moved the Tigers to fourth and nine. Legerski found Mattinson and the chains showed a first down to keep the Tiger season alive. Willmore moved the ball to the two yard line on the next play with under 30 seconds left.  Legerski hit the ref on third down for an incomplete, sending the kicker on the field.

With 13 seconds left, Damien Cordova lined up for the field goal. The kick went wide left giving the Bison their first 4A win of the season and killing the Tigers playoff hopes.